Mount Pleasant is known as one of the most residential neighborhoods in Cleveland. With a long history of African-American homeownership, the neighborhood has been home to as Don King and Jim Brown. “There’s a number of African-American leaders of today who started in Mount Pleasant,” says Zach Reed, Cleveland City Council member. “We have a long history of African-American tradition that we continue to convey to this day.”

Neighborhood Gem

Luke Easter Park, named after the professional baseball player who has roots in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, is the largest urban park in the state with 114 acres. The park boasts tennis courts, baseball and football fields, a pool, indoor skating rink, basketball courts and weight room.

“What made Luke Easter Park a viable park was the number of amenities,” says Reed. “The park itself is great.”

Three times a year the park is home to community events. Louis Stokes’ Congressional Parade congregates at the park every Labor Day, while an annual fireworks event — initiated by Reed — occurs the last Saturday in July. About 10,000 people attend the day-long picnic at Reed’s Family Unity in the Park. The first week of August brings the African-American Festival.